La Association UK Donates to Sgt Adjetey Monument

A recent delegation made up of members of La Kpee UK, led by their Chairperson Mrs Mabel Doku donated a sum of 30 million old cedis to honor a promise made to the committee set up to ensure that a befitting monument is erected to honour the memory of Sgt Adjetey a proud son and hero of La.

Other members of the delegation included Nii Abeka Gogo immediate past Chairman and Dr Eric Boye. At a small but impressive ceremony held at La before the presentation, the Chairman of the committee of the project thanked the delegation for their donation and assured the delegation that the money will help with the ongoing project.

Present to receive the Delegation were Nii La,Traditional leaders, a presiding member of MC and the son and grand children of Sgt Adjetey.

The project is located on the Osu La road at the gateway junction to LA. The monument is dedicated to the honor and everlasting memory of Sgt. Cornelius Frederick Adjetey a patriot of La who saw service in both world wars. It is being constructed by the LA socio-economic Development Association and the La citizens network with strong support of the LA Traditional council in collaboration with GA-DANGME council. The foundation of the monument was unveiled by the LA chief (LA MANTSE) NII KPOBI TETTEY TSURU III on Saturday, March 2, 2002.

Sgt Adjetey was a member of the 81 and 82 division of the West African frontier force which excelled in driving the Japanese forces out of southern Arakan in India and Burma. Inthe coastal belt of Southern Arakan in the difficult mountain terrainsthe enemy had to be cleared particularly from the Taun­gup Pass on the road to Prome. Not withstanding a spirited opposition from the Japanese forces and the loss of many lives, the enemy resistance had been overcome and his unit was mentioned in dispatches for exceptional bravery.

It would be recalled that, on Saturday, 28th February 1948, a number of unarmed ex-servicemen were on a peaceful march from Accra to the Christiansborg Castle to present a petition to the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief, Sir Gerald Creasy, on failed promises on their end of service entitlements when they were intercepted at the Christiansborg Crossroad by a contingent of armed policemen, led by a gun ho British Superintendent, Colin Imray. Without provocation,they opened fire at the Ex-servicemen, killing Sergeant Adjetey, Cpl Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey, instantly.

The news about the death of the gallant Ex-servicemen spread rapidly, leading to a break down of law and order in Accra and other parts of the country, resulting in what has come to be known and popularly referred to as the 1948 disturbances.

This set the tone for the anti-colonial movements to press the British government to institute a committee to investigate the killings and the consequent general disorder. The committee recommended self- government for the Gold Coast,which hastened the struggle for the attainment of political independence for the country on March 6, 1957.

A martyr of the independence struggle and a veteran of both world wars, we the members of La Association UK are proud to contribute in our small way towards the rehabilitation of this great son of La.